"It's Time to Organize!" A Blog Related to Activities of the Coalition for Economic Survival (CES) & More…..

How I Shop At Ralphs These Days

These days when I go shopping at Ralphs, these pictures show what my shopping cart looks likes.

It’s so important to show your support for the workers when you shop at Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons. When I go down the aisles with my shopping cart dressed up with support signs, the workers are incredibly appreciative. It means a lot to them to know there is community support for them. Going out on strike would be a huge sacrifice for them and theirs families. They need to know customers will stand behind them and not shop at these store if they should strike.

According to the United Food & Commercial Workers Union, with 62,000 grocery store workers in Southern California entering their fifth month without a contract, Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons workers are ready to walk off their jobs if contract negotiations continue to stall over the issue of health care.

Recently, a Ralphs’ spokesperson acknowledged that employees’ out-of-pocket maximum would go up under the company proposal but said the top amount would be $8,000. But, when you include the additional $2,000 deductible and premiums of $1,196 per year that the employers are proposing, the total health care costs an employee could be forced to pay is $11,196 per year.

This is totally unaffordable for the average grocery worker who earns about $25,000 per year and that is why they are standing together to keep their health care affordable.

Ralphs, Vons and Albertson falsely claim they can’t meet union demands, yet the companies but all three obtained profits in the range of $5 billion last year, and paid out $500 million in dividends to Wall Street and investors! These are some of the most profitable corporations in America.
If there is a strike, the call for a boycott of Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons must be supported. It is incumbent on every shopper to never cross any picket line. It is the only way economic justice will be achieved for all.

So, next time you shop at Ralphs, Vons or Albertsons, let the workers their know that you will stand with them.

I hope everyone supports our grocery workers…..Do not cross a picket line ever, we need to show these corporations that they need to take care of the employees that make them the successful companies they are today.